Chapter Fifty Three: Starlight Love Part Eight: Past
"Peach" Bowser asked as they sat in the medical room, waiting for Mario and the Koopalings to recover. "I have to ask you a question."
"What is it?" Peach asked, looking at the Koopa.
"Well" Bowser said, thinking over his response. "I was kinda wondering why you acted so terrified when Mario wanted to take you back home. You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I just found it odd that someone as positive as you could become so terrified like that."
"Well" Peach said, drawing her knees up to her chin, looking down at her bare feet (a personal preference of hers). "I-It's a long story."
"You don't have to tell if you don't want to." Bowser said, shrugging.
"W-well" Peach said. "I-I guess I should tell you at some point."
"Okay then." Bowser said. "But, if you want to stop, go ahead and stop."
"O-okay." Peach said, nodding, her voice going softer. "W-well, my m-mother was, w-well, she was not a very nice person."
"Really?" Bowser said, a notion forming in his mind.
"No.' Peach said, shaking her head, her blonde hair ruffling with the motion. "Sh-she wasn't. I d-don't want to continue."
"Understood.' Bowser said, nodding. "You don't have to."
"B-but" Peach said. "I have to say this th-thing before I stop. I a-actually w-was running away from her on the d-day the Kingdom was destroyed. I-I wanted to just g-get away."
"Oh.' Bowser said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Well—"
"B-but, then I met you guys.' Peach said, wrapping her arms around Bowser, smiling as tears flowed. "A-and, you guys made me so happy and I had so much fun with you guys."
"W-well." Bowser said, surprised at the motion. "We have fun with you too, Peach."
"I" Peach said, smiling. "I think you guys are the best friends I've ever had."
"Well" Bowser said, chuckling. "You're the best friend and guest we've ever had."
"Th-thank you." Peach said, looking up into Bowser's eyes, hers shiny with tears.
"You're welcome." Bowser said, chuckling. "Well, do you want to see how they're doing?"
"y-yeah." Peach said, the two of them staring at each other.
"W-well" Bowser said, grining. "We should go then."
"Y-yeah." Peach said, blushing slightly as she realized she was enjoying looking into Bowser's eyes. "Let's.'
They went inside of the room, where Mario and the Koopalings were sitting and waiting for the doctor to give them the ok to leave.
"A-are you guys okay?" Peach asked.
"Yeah." Mario said. "These kids are tough."
"The toughest." Bowser said, grinning and crossing his arms. "You wouldn't find a Toad with half their toughness."
"I'll bet not." Mario said, nodding. "Peach, I'm sorry I tried to force you away from your friends like that."
"It's okay" Peach said, smiling. "I know you meant well."
"So" Luigi asked. "Is there a food court somewhere? Me and Mario forgot to grab lunch. Or, should I say, we forgot to grab lunch for both of us."
"Actually" Mario said. "I packed lunch. For me."
"You hog.' Luigi said, nudging his brother, a grin on his face.
"Hey." Mario said, shrugging. "I gotta get me some food somehow."
"You just stuffed some spaghetti in a carryout bag." Luigi said. "And, then you ate it all before I could get any."
"What can I say?" Mario said, grinning. "I'm a big boy."
"A big boy who loves his pasta.' Peach said, giggling.
"Yep." Mario said.
"So" Peach said. "How was the journey here?"
"It was fine." Luigi said. "We were more bored than anything else.'
"That's good." Peach said, smiling. "Well, maybe we can show you around."
"Thanks.' Luigi said. "That'd be nice."
"Welcome." Peach said.
"You're pretty good." Morton said. "WE should do that again sometime.'
"Yeah.' The other Koopalings agreed.
"Uh" Mario said, rubbing the back of his head. "Sure. I guess we can do that."
"Yay!" the Koopalings said, cheering.
"Careful now." Bowser warned Mario. "You'll have one hell of a fight on your hands if you're not careful."
"I'm sure we can keep it to a moderate level.' Mario said, shrugging.
"Better hope so." Bowser said. "They're tough kids, so you better be ready."
"Oh, I will be." Mario said, chuckling. "I underestimated them before. But, not this time."
"So" Peach said. "Where should we go first?"
"The food." Mario said, rubbing his stomach.
"Oh, Mario.' Peach said, giggling. "I can always read you like a book."
"Yep." Mario said, standing up and getting out of the bed he was resting in. "So, let's go."
"Alright.' Peach said. "Let's go, cuz.'
"Right.' Mario said.
"Only eat your body weight this time." Luigi said to Mario as they walked out of the room.
"I'll bet we could out-eat you." Both Morton and Roy challenged the eighteen year old.
"Bring it on." Mario said, grinning. They ran towards the food court, competition flaring in their eyes.
"They're awfully forgiving." Luigi said.
"Well" Peach said. "They know Mario was just looking out for me. So, what should we do while we wait for them?"
"I'm gonna get some food." Luigi said, running after them. "Before they eat it all."
"Okay.' Peach said.
"What are you gonna do?" Bowser asked.
"I was going to go sit by the fountain and play this lovely Ocarina Ludwig bought for me." Peach said, taking it out of the little pouch around her neck she kept it in.
"That's a nice one.' Bowser said, looking at it. "They nicknamed that model the "Ocarina of Time" since it's rumored to be able to survive centuries without rotting."
"That's amazing.' Peach said. "I've always loved the Ocarina. Such a beautiful instrument."
"Yeah." Bowser said, nodding. "Ludwig was saying he'd like to watch a sunset with you. He's at the fountain. It's definitely got the best view for that."
"Okay." Peach said. "You're welcome to join us if you want."
"Nah.' Bowser said. "not my thing. You go ahead."
"Alright." Peach said, smiling, walking over to the fountain.
At the fountain
Peach walked over to the fountain, the grass feeling nice on her bare feet. Ludwig was sitting there, waiting for her.
"There you are." He said. "I was expecting you."
"This is nice." Peach said, smiling.
"Yes.' Ludwig said, the two of them watching it.
Peach pulled out her Ocarina, playing a soft tone her cousin, Zelda, had gone to sleep to as a child, entitled 'Zelda's Lullaby'.
"That's a beautiful song." Ludwig said.
"Thanks.' Peach said once she'd finished. "My cousin taught it to me. She loved it a lot."
"I can see why.' Ludwig said. "It's beautiful."
"She always said so too." Peach said. "She said the best time to play it is at sunset."
"Definitely." Ludwig said, nodding.
The two continued to watch the sunset until Peach fell asleep, Ludwig carrying her to her room.
Another sweet moment. So nice. I wonder what'll happen next though. Find out soon.
